A Great Story - Pt. 3

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:1-5 ESV).

 

In addition to a good beginning, every story also needs a good ending. I’ve read that a story is like a bus: a good one will pick you up wherever you are and drop you off somewhere else. I like stories with happy endings. Those are the ones where the main characters live “happily ever after.” A really good story gives you hints of that as it goes along, but it also leaves you wondering how the characters will eventually get there. I also believe all good endings make sense; evoke emotion like contentment, anger, sadness, or curiosity; shift the reader's perspective; or open her mind to new ideas. They do not confuse or cast the whole story as a hoax. Good endings bring the hero—and, more importantly, the reader—to some kind of destination. I certainly hope my book will do that, though it may be a while before we get to the final ending as the plan now calls for two more volumes in the story!

 

The Bible presents us with the happiest of all endings. Our reading today gives us a glimpse of that ending. The struggles of our world draw to a close as the risen Jesus finally returns to this world, bringing heaven and earth together. At long last he will wipe every tear from our eyes, every wrong will be made right, and we will live with God and each other, as in the beginning.

 

If you’re like me, you long for that happy ending, maybe without even knowing it. Life involves disappointments. The people in our lives disappoint us, our bodies become sick, or old age steadily erodes our sense of vitality. When we struggle, something inside us wants to sigh heavily, “It shouldn’t have to be like this!” That’s the sigh of everyone who has the natural result of the sin of Adam and Eve. God’s response is simple: “You’re right—it shouldn’t have to be like this. And in the end it won’t be. Just stick with the story until the happy ending.” Take courage from that truth, regardless of the trial you are facing!